Missing bolts cited in Othello fatality

Tree, plaque planned for Avista worker

OTHELLO — Missing bolts may have caused the death of an Avista Utilities lineman after the catastrophic failure of a utility truck boom arm May 31.

Robert "Bob" D. Smith, 50, died and Hiawatha Elementary School teacher Melissa Martinez sustained broken vertebrae after falling from more than 20 feet from a bucket connected to a boom arm.

Smith and Martinez were in the bucket to conduct an annual science experiment, where students build protective cases to protect eggs from a lengthy drop.

The accident took place before roughly 600 students, teachers and parents.

The state Department of Labor and Industries and Avista Utilities are investigating the cause of the boom arm collapse.

"An inspection showed there are 20 bolts that hold the pedestal in place," Avista Utilities Communication Manager Debbie Simock said. "Eleven of the bolts were broken in place and there were nine bolts missing."

Three of the missing nine bolts were found at the accident scene, she said.

It's unknown how the bolts broke or how they came loose, she said. The accident remains under investigation.

Since the accident, Avista hired an outside company to inspect equipment daily.

The truck was last inspected August 2006, Simock said. Previous to the accident, the trucks were inspected annually.

Within the Avista coverage area there are 123 pieces of equipment inspected daily, including 83 trucks, 32 diggers and six cranes, she said.

"Safety is the nature of our business," she said.

Avista employees in the Spokane office raised money to purchase a tree and plaque in Smith's memory. It is anticipated to be placed in Pioneer Park in Othello next week.